Examining How We Measure Our Lives
Commentary, critiques, and observations on information design and data visualisation
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Read on…: Timeline of Recent French Terrorism Attacks
Yesterday the French Catholic community of Rouen was attacked by an alleged IS terror group. In the aftermath the BBC put together a graphic published inside a broader piece. The graphic documented the recent history of terror attacks in France. When you read or scroll through the overall piece, a bit more symmetry could be added by […]
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National Heights
Read on…: National HeightsAnd by this title I am not referencing McKinleys, K2s, or Everests. No, the BBC published this piece on the changing average heights of citizens of various countries. This was the graphic they used from the report’s author. Personally speaking, I do not care for the graphic. It is unclear and puts undue emphasis on […]
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Optimisation Prime
Read on…: Optimisation PrimeThe name of the economic game is efficiency. And that means optimising things. Happy Friday. Credit for the piece goes to Randall Munroe.
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Hillary Clinton’s E-mail Problem
Read on…: Hillary Clinton’s E-mail ProblemToday Donald Trump should take the stage at the Republican National Convention as he accepts the party’s nomination to run for president. I suspect he will mention Crooked Hillary and quite possibly her e-mails. Thankfully, we have this Washington Post piece from earlier this month that examines the severity of her lapses in security. Credit […]
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Covering Terrorism
Read on…: Covering TerrorismLast week we witnessed the lorry attack in Nice, France. This week we have the axeman attack on a German train. Does anybody note, however, the recent terror attacks in Dhaka, Bangladesh? Probably not, according to this insightful piece from FiveThirtyEight. They took a look at journalism’s coverage of terror attacks and whether there are […]
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In Putin’s Russia Steroids Dope You
Read on…: In Putin’s Russia Steroids Dope YouI mean really, given the rampant and pervasive nature of the Russian state-aided doping programme, how could I not use the Russian reversal? Yesterday WADA, the international anti-doping agency, released its findings on Russian doping at the Olympics. And, suffice it to say, the report is rather damning. The BBC published this graphic in an […]
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Septa’s Silverliner Service Shutdown
Read on…: Septa’s Silverliner Service ShutdownTwo weeks ago Philadelphia regional rail commuters, a large group to which I belonged for a number of years, experienced a week from hell. On 2 July a yard inspector for Septa, the Philadelphia region’s transit agency, discovered a Silverliner V railcar tilting. For those not familiar with Septa, the Silverliner Vs have been in […]
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Crashes
Read on…: CrashesI only wish there was something about train wrecks in here. But that might require another axis. Credit for the piece goes to Randall Munroe.
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Theresa May’s Cabinet
Read on…: Theresa May’s CabinetWho said British politics are boring? With David Cameron out and Theresa May in as Prime Minister, it is time to reshuffle the cabinet. And the Guardian is reusing the style they had for the Jeremy Corbyn shadow cabinet mass resignation. Except in this case, the colours reflect the Tory’s position on Brexit. Credit for […]